The challenge was steeper than any hill they would come across this season.
Brea Olinda, the defending CIF-SS Division 3 champions, stood as the heavy favorite to win the Crestview League again.
Canyon boys cross country coach Patrick Bendzick could see only one option for his team.
“When the best team in the state is in your league, you just have to get down to work,” Bendzick said of competing against the Wildcats. “It gave us a lot to shoot for and set expectations very, very high.”
It was the story that defined the Comanches’ season. Little by little, they chipped away at the gap between them and the Wildcats.
Canyon was not the county’s most naturally gifted team, but the Comanches were a hard-working, resilient group that fought for every point in a race.
For his ability to motivate his runners to take on the toughest tests and the Comanches’ consistent improvement, Bendzick has been selected the Register’s boys cross country coach of the year.
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2014 ALL-COUNTY BOYS CROSS COUNTRY:
2014 All-County boys cross country team
Brea’s Tamagno is 2014 boys cross country athlete of the year
2014 All-County boys cross country: second, third teams
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During the season, the Crestview League meets resembled dual meets for Canyon and Brea Olinda. At the league preview meet, the first eleven runners alternated Brea Olinda then Canyon, with the Wildcats winning, 25-30.
Two weeks later, at the O.C. Championships, Canyon finished second again behind Brea Olinda.
The results didn’t faze the Comanches. They suited up for one last war with their league rival and nearly pulled off the upset at the league finals.
Canyon’s Ryan Thompson and Dalton Tanner each moved up a spot at the league finals, leaving Canyon just three points shy of a victory.
Although the Comanches had several good runners, Bendzick said the team never developed competitive jealousies.
“This has been the most enjoyable group of kids I’ve ever had to work with,” he said. “All the mixing of our rotation that we did, there was never any animosity or entitlement to a position. Everyone took real pride in their role.”
